Fire escape



Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,474

7 T. HANCOCK FIRE ESCAPE Filed Dec. 10, 192-5 Fleb INVENTOR FIG T 7 BY 5'. /./y

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28 1926.

THOMAS HANCOCK, or TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Application filed December 10, 1925.

This invention relates to a fire escape as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of the novel features pointed out broadly and specifically in the claim for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of an acceptable form of the invention.

The objects of the invention are to provide a practical and dependable fire escape, especially adapted to small hotels, small oiiice buildings and residences; to produce a device that can be easily fastened to any exit without taking much room; to manufacture an unexpensive device that can be operated by an uninitiated person and almostpositive of action; and generally, to furnish a novel fire escape of simple but strong construction, capable of accomplishing the aforesaid purposes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation View of the device without the handle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device broken away in parts to disclose the opera tion.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the nut.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the body belt.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the cylinder 30 showing the holes in the piston.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

The frame 10 consists of an angle iron 11 bent to the shape of an elongated U, and carries intermediate of its length the main bearing bracket 12 and bottom bracket 13. The main bearing bracket 12 has an upturned flange 14 which forms the bearing for the screw shaft 15. A plate 16 is secured to the frame 10 and holes 17 are provided in said plate and in the bottom bracket 13 by means of which the device is secured to any desirable fixture or preferably to a back plate screwed to the window frame.

The drum 18 carries the cable 19 and is formed of the end plates 20 and hub 21, or may be cast in one piece if desired. The drum 18 has a square hole which is adapted to engage the square end of the shaft or spindle 22 and is held thereto by the washer 23 and cotter pin 24. The spindle 22 is supported in the bracket 12 and carries at its inner end the bevel gear 25 which engages a corresponding bevel gear 26 secured to the shaft Serial No. 74,558.

15. The screw 15 carries the nut or yoke 27 wh ch is threaded to engage the threads on said screw.

The nut 27 is formed with the arms 28 which extend laterally towards the sides of the frame 10. The arms 28 terminate in the guide lugs 29 which act as sliding supports during the reciprocating movement of the nut.

The plunger or well or cylinder 30 is secured to the lower end of the frame 10, ad acent to one side thereof, and houses the p ston 3O which is suitably secured to the piston rod 31. The cylinder 30 contains oil or air which is forced through small holes 31 in the piston during the backward and forward movement of said piston rod. The piston rod is secured to the nut 27 by the nut 32, holding said nut against the collar 33 on the rod 31. The drum is rewound by turning the crank 34 having the handle 35 thereon.

One end of the cable 19 is secured to the drum 18 and the other end is secured to the body belt 35 which has the snap buckle 36, by means of which the belt is easily and quickly secured around the body. The device is enclosed within a suitable casing when erected.

In the operation of this device, the opera tor unwinds a. portion of the cable 19 and secures the body belt around the body, after which he allows himself to gently drop off the window sill or other place of eXit. The resulting tension on the cable causes the rotation of the shaft 22 and gear 25, thus rotating the shaft 15 through the gear 26. This action causes the yoke 27' carrying the piston rod, to move up and down in the cylinder, thus moving the piston within the cylinder 30. The piston meets with resistance by way of the oil, or air, within the cylinder. This, it slowly overcomes by means of the oil, or air, finding an outlet to the other end of the cylinder through holes in the piston. The combination of these actions causes the operator to be slowly lowered to the ground. The next person whose escape is sought to be effected, rewinds the cable by turning the crank 34 and the device is ready for further use.

What I claim is: i

In a fire escape, a frame having a bracket laid crosswise thereof and intermediate of its length, a horizontal shaft journaled in said bracket and a drum detachably secured upon one end thereof, a cable Wound around said frame, a dashpot Within said frame and said drum and a strap secured at the free secured Within said bracket, and a rod conend thereof, a vertical screw journaied in necting one of said arms to the piston in 10 said bracket and frame, gears operatively said dashpot.

connecting said screw and shaft, anut Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 31st day screwed on said screw and having arms exof August, 1925.

tending out therefrom slidably engaging THOMAS HANCOCK. 

